More than 600 members of 37 different Chambers of Commerce across Nassau County gathered at Crest Hollow Country Club on Friday to celebrate the 31st Annual Small Businessperson of Year and Legislative Breakfast.
The event’s 37 honorees included Dominic Oreste of the Chamber of Commerce of the Willistons, Stephen Wickes of the Floral Park Chamber of Commerce, Judy Litner of the Great Neck Chamber of Commerce, Cheryl Fajardo of the Greater New Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce, Giuseppe DiBartoloneo of the Port Washington Chamber of Commerce and Vito DiTrapani of the Roslyn Chamber of Commerce, among others.
“I’m extremely proud,” Oreste said after receiving his award.
Oreste, a first-time honoree, opened D&J’s Printing Company in Williston Park in 1981 and been serving the community for 35 years.
“Its a great feeling [to be recognized],” he said.
DiBartolomeo is the owner of Home Run Electric in Port Washington, a generator showroom that he said is the first of its kind in Long Island.
He is also a first-time honoree.
“It’s a great thing for me [to be honored],” DiBartolomeo said. “We do a lot for the community. It’s good to give back.”
Wickes, another first-time honoree, is the co-owner of the Body King Studio, a one-on-one personal training studio, and One Sound Label, a DJ and dance entertainment company, both in Floral Park.
“It’s nice to be around people who have influenced me [to] work hard,” he said.
Wickes said that in his line of work it is about “[making] people feel good about themselves [and] keeping positive.”
Sal Ferro, president and CEO of Alure Home Improvements was scheduled to be the breakfast’s keynote speaker, but a 102-degree fever forced him to stay home.
Seth Selesnow, Alure’s marketing director spoke on Ferro’s behalf.
“[We want to] make a difference on Long Island,” Selesnow said during his speech. “[Ferro focuses] on things he’s passionate about and things that connect with our customers and employees. At the end of the day it is taking care of the customer and that is what Alure is focused on.”
A number of politicians attended the event, including state Sen. Jack Martins, Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, state Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel, Nassau County Legislator Judy Jacobs, Nassau County Legislator Richard Nicolello, Nassau County Legislator Ellen Birnbaum, Town of North Hempstead Councilwoman Dina De Giorgio and Nassau County Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams, among others.
